May 10, 2007

Where they led, we followed: Goodbye, 'Gilmore Girls'

I’m fully aware that I was among the voices calling for an end to “Gilmore Girls.” Yet I can’t believe the final episode is actually here.

After negotiations to give the show an additional season broke down, fans recently learned that, as of Tuesday’s episode (appropriately titled “Bon Voyage”), that’s that. No more Gilmores, no more Stars Hollow.

Truth be told, after seven seasons of many ups and downs, I’m sad that the show has come to an end (as necessary as that ending is). There will be (sniff) things I’ll miss about the show, and here, in honor of the show’s seven seasons, are seven of them:

Richard and Emily Gilmore: No matter how rocky, how implausible or how irritating “Gilmore Girls” could be — and longtime fans know the show frequently ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous — Lorelai’s parents, Richard (Edward Herrmann) and Emily (Kelly Bishop), never failed to salvage a story line, prop up a plot or, in their own blue-blooded way, get to the emotional heart of a situation. Richard could have been a bow-tie wearing stuffed shirt, and Emily could have been just another WASP witch, but thanks to these actors’ lively yet precise work, the senior Gilmores were often the best thing about the show. (More on Kelly Bishop here.)

Paris Geller: Another character who could have been supremely annoying, but in the hands of a skilled actor, emphatically was not. Liza Weil helped you see the struggle and insecurity at the heart of Paris’ often bewildering intensity, and she was wickedly funny to boot. You can certainly see why Rory stuck by the driven, socially clueless Paris all these years.

Those pop-culture references (more on them here): Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel) had a poster of Noam Chomsky on the wall of her college apartment. Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) named her dog Paul Anka. Much of one episode was devoted to a loving re-creation of scenes from the indie rock documentary “Dig!” Guest stars included Sebastian Bach of Skid Row, Carole King and Sonic Youth. Tuesday’s finale features a guest appearance from Rory’s idol, journalist Christiane Amanpour. Oh, and then there was the dialogue, which was so jam-packed with references to movies, TV shows, current events, past events and goofball pop-culture oddities that the WB included a booklet called “Gilmore-isms” in the show’s DVD boxed sets. There’s no way to even attempt to give a flavor of the best “Gilmore” dialogue in this space: Try the Web site wikiquote.org/wiki/Gilmore_Girls for a taste of the magic.

Kirk’s endless array of jobs: If there was a job that needed doing in Stars Hollow — or even if there was a job that didn’t need doing in Stars Hollow — chances are the town oddball Kirk was doing it. Thank you, Sean Gunn, for seven seasons of delightfully deadpan comic work.

Rory’s friend Lane Kim: “Gilmore Girls’” passion for (and good use of) music was exemplified by Rory’s best friend Lane (Keiko Agena), who disobeyed her strict mother’s rules to acquire the coolest record collection in Stars Hollow — and Lane even became a drummer for a rock band, Hep Alien. Lane was always an excellent (and much-needed) reality check for Rory, and I must also give a shoutout to Todd Lowe, who was spot-on as Lane’s slightly ditzy but loving guitar-playing husband, Zack. (Trivia note: To me, Adam Brody is not that guy from “The O.C.” — I’ll always remember him as Dave Rygalski, Lane’s guitar-playing first love).

Michel Gerard’s constant snobbery: Forget that whole idea that TV characters should grow and change over time. For seven seasons, the voice of bed and breakfast employee Michel (Yanic Truesdale) dripped with constant condescension and witty sarcasm. What could be more fun than French-accented hauteur? Don’t go changing, Michel.

Lauren Graham: Well, what’s left to say? Hordes of TV critics and commentators over the years have tried to get the Emmy dolts to notice the amazing actress who played Lorelai, to no avail. So I say, harrrmph, the Emmy bigwigs are dummies. Besides, anyone who saw her sing a drunken karaoke version of “I Will Always Love You” to Luke Danes (Scott Patterson) knows that this woman is the real thing. There wasn’t a dry eye in the bar, or in my house, during that scene. Wow.

So long, “Gilmore Girls.” Thanks for everything.

Photos: All images from "Bon Voyage," the May 15 series finale of "Gilmore Girls." Rory (Alexis Bledel) at Rory Gilmore Day in Stars Hollow; Christiane Amanpour visits Rory and Lorelai (Lauren Graham); the residents of Stars Hollow at Rory Gilmore Day; Lauren Graham as Lorelai.

Comments

It's finally over...maybe something worthwhile will be put in it's place. I couldn't see why it hung on so long...GG, Veronica mars and 7th Heaven should have been dropped several seasons ago. They won't be missed. Maybe if the CW network didn't have so many soapy programs they might find themselves a credible network to compete with the others.

Wow - gotta say I'm kind of stunned that you wouldn't even think to mention the wonderful work Scott Patterson did in bringing the character of Luke to life. He is half the reason so many fans of the show wanted he and Lorelai together.
Yet, the secondary support players all get a mention, but not him? Why?
I'll miss the show for all the reasons you mention, but I would have stopped watching long ago had the Luke character not kept bringing me back in because the self-absorbed character of Lorelai could be exhausting as a character. Sherman Palladino created Luke as a great foil for her and Patterson breathed life into him with all his wonderful reaction expressions, perfect line deliveries, pathos, etc.
I've always enjoyed your thoughts on this show - this just disappoints.

Every tuesday evening I would rush home just to see the next episode of those lively girls. It brightened my day but also it also reinforced my belief that mothers and daughters can get along, even in the teenage years and also that mothers and daughters (Loreli and Emily) could be totally opposite yet still love each other. I will miss this program so much and really felt that Loreli and Rorie were part of my family. After the first season I called my two granddaugters and told them all about it so they started watching it also. Thanks for seven great years "GG".

"Gilmore Girls" was the first show apparently fearlessly to reveal the severe Peter Pan-ism of our culture, but did so in a kind of poignant way. Of course, one always wondered who was the grown-up between mother and daughter and usually it was Rory acting as some kind of sensible foil to the antics of her child-woman mother. (Not always, mind you, but usually.) Yet, and also "of course," there is great charm in youth - or even effortless youthful affectation - and Lauren Graham was certainly up to that. She could play a woman-adolescent, convincingly younger in act and outlook than her old-before-her-time daughter, till the cows came home. (If you've ever seen her on a late night talk show, apparently that's who she is.)
What "Gilmore Girls" did in a sped-up kind of "Northern Exposure" of way was surround the afflicted (Lorelai) with characters (other than her mostly sensible daughter) who were more out-there than she was. (It was interesting that the producers decided to make a doublet of that by reintroducing Rory in the form of April, Luke's suddenly appearing, long-lost, theretofore unknown daughter. She was also portrayed as much older than her years and far more sensible than her dad.)

The "snappy" dialogue often fell flat, the characters, many of them, were really cliched eccentrics - hated the severely labored, unentertaining caricatures of "Kirk Gleason" and "Taylor Doose" the most (although Sally Struthers' "Babette" made me understand why Damiano always looked more frightened than hungry - and the plot-arc was anything but well-plotted.

But beneath all that - and the "wiser-than-thou" child manages/foils free-spirited parent formula, which is older than "Paper Moon" - was a kind of honesty about 21st century mother-daughter relations (and a modern mother's problems of self-esteem and identity) that touches upon how afraid middle age women/mothers - and I think men/fathers, too - are to grow up and fearlessly be adults and parents. Yeah, the days of Ward and June Cleaver are long gone and maybe should be, but the likes of Lorelai don't know who they are and maybe never will. That is a subject well worth exploring. I mean, Ward and June never seemed to fear growing old. Our culture makes women/mothers feel as if they should be young/look young/act young until they join the choir invisible. What rubbish and only in America! "GG" will be missed as a kind of very oblique commentary on this strange phenomenon which simply guarantees unhappiness. Otherwise it won't be missed at all.

My mother (currently 77) and I (42) have spent seven years watching Gilmore Girls every Tuesday, even after I got married (2005). We laugh, we debate and we cry together and it has brought us closer together than ever. I don't know what we're going to do on Tuesdays now.

Like many viewers, I began watching with my then 12-yr-old daughter, who's now halfway through college.

There were some times when my kid would blog about why I wasn't the cool kind of mom like Lorelai, LOL.

But though it was mother-daughter that started us watching, it was the outstanding work of Scott Patterson--who knew that spongeworthy would translate into pining and ultimately wonderful love!?!?!!

Here is an actor whose character was a perfect foil in both style and personality to the leading lady. And not only does the character of Luke appeal to women of many ages, he appeals to men too--a man's man who can be a woman's best friend is how Scott Patterson once described Luke, half a decade ago.

And how many shows feature a couple that appeals to not only teeny-boppers, but also their moms? For example, we watch the excellent Friday Night Lights, but I've got eyes only for Coach and his wife, whereas my daughter avidly follows the teenage romances.

Not so with Gilmore Girls.

And what about Sookie? How many TV shows let the overweight best friend be the one who finds true love and marries and has a beautiful family, and leaves (apparently) the gorgeous, thin leading lady alone and unsuccessful at holding onto love?

I'll miss GG, although I agree it was waning, think it would have been better (much!) if they had planned the end, instead we get a season finale and not a series finale (they cancelled it after the episodes were taped). GG was a rare 1 hour show, one I that enjoyed watching the reruns almost as much as new episodes. Star's Hollow is a place many GG fans would like to live, and I suppose we will revisit it often via DVD. So I won't say good-bye, instead - Hasta luego --Until we meet again.

Thank God I'm not the only one who never thought Alexis Bledel could act. You'd think that she would improve over the years, but it seems she attended the Keanu Reeves School of Acting, majoring in monotone delivery.

I to will miss GG, but unlike very few shows these days, I think its ending at a good time and not sticking around just to stick around. I will still miss it though, but my hope for Veronica Mars filling it time slot is getting brighter and brighter.

I've been watching GG since the beginning and will miss it. It was always so well written and well acted (even Alexis, bless her heart, improved over the years) that it was difficult to see it floundering of late. So it's a good time for "Bon Voyage." My one lingering criticism is that the writers didn't see fit to have the irritating, selfish, snot-nosed Christopher character flattened by an out-of-control Stars Hollow bus (driven by Kirk of course). Maybe the finale...

If you don't like a show (like Tim, ME, and George Watson), why do people go on a board and post negative comments about it. I don't go on American Idol, Greys Anatomy (sorry, just can't get into it) and Desperate Houseives and complain and moan about it.

Maybe its a bad by product of the internet, that makes people want to complain about everything that annoys them or that they don't like.

To Nora,
You've misread my comments which I thought were generally positive. "Gilmore Girls" offered something very unique in that it focussed on the sistership of a mother and daughter. That was bold because, although mothers and daughters aren't supposed to be "sisters," our culture fosters resistance to maturation and the show offered some commentary about that cultural/emotional perversion. (Surely mothers and daughters can be the best of friends, even best friends, but not sisters. That implies age-proximity - and that is impossible.) The subtext of the show - quite apart from all the "Sookie," "Kirk," "Babette" and other sideshows to the main events - was about relations between mothers and daughters.

I believe the writers and producers were very aware, even acutely aware of those modern dynamics and foregrounded "Lorelai," throwing her emotions and interactions especially with other significant family females into sharp relief. Note the difference in behavior, outlook, etc., portrayed on the show between "Lorelai" and "Emily Gilmore" portrayed by the estimable Kelly Bishop. Certainly "Emily" was staid, stiffnecked and even downright repellant in many of her behaviors. But she knew who she was. It's "Lorelai," like so many other clueless modern middle aged men and women, who seem to have endless cartoon birds circling around their heads, caught as they are between the fantasies of a youth-culture and their own very real aging.

Postscript: "Lorelai's" fast-paced, smart-aleck comments were defenses, foils against the real "Lorelai" who is afraid to emerge because she still doesn't know who she is. Indeed, "Luke's" failure to commit was a bitter reflection of her own fecklessness. (Did she ever really commit to Christopher? Did anybody ever think she wouldn't go back to herself - Luke - who is still feckless because he, with his diner and in his fatigues and reversed cap, is still in his adolescence?) Does anybody ever grow up in "Star's Hollow"?

As flawed as Luke was, he was hardly in his adolescence - having been forced to take on a lot of responsbility after his mother died when he was young, then him taking care of his father's business when his father became ill and then died.
Luke never flinched when it came to taking care of family - taking in his troubled nephew Jess without a moment's hesitation because that was Luke's attitude: you do what you an for family simply because it is family. Period.
We saw him embrace his newly found daughter (as pathetic a plot point ever on this show) and fight for his rights to be a part of her life. He never chose to walk away as Christopher did for Rory's entire life.
It seemed to me that Luke's self sufficiency and inability to trust and fully allow himself to relinquish his control on his life is because he had to learn to take care of himself from such an early age - that stuff is hard to change.
I think Lorelai was stunted in her romantic life because she had devoted her life to taking care of her daughter from such a young age. While most people are discovering romantic relationships and learning from them at the same age she was struggling to support her child, she never went through that right of passage.
I do think that there has been growth on the main characters' parts - Luke with allowing himself to share his life with his daughter and, apparently, with Lorelai in the end; Rory choosing to and being excited about entering the next phase of her life with the road wide open and Lorelai finally realizing that the big lug of a guy is, without question, the one for her - even though he is not perfect; as neither is she.

To Courtney,
In your elegant way, you've made a case for the awful concretization of youth in each of the principals. Control is after all a symptom of great immaturity: wanting a "soul mate" is simply a statement of near-neurosis, a desire to clone one's self as the safest romantic bet because real people are so upsetting. (Why not just get a pet?) That the two, L. and L. can let go and - as you say - recognize that neither is perfect, but both are eminently acceptable, is certainly a positive change. I remain sanguine: Rory's "walk all over me" attitude toward Logan's childishness - an interesting doublet on Lorelai and Christopher - is pathetically immature, as is Luke's where-is-this-coming-from need to seize total control of April from her mother - again as you say, a very bad plot wrinkle. Obviously, whether both can let go - and grow up - remains to be seen.

I will miss Gilmore Girls so much!! I was so excited every week of what was going to come for the next episode but now it is gone!! Well do you think fans that if everybody who is a fan just sat down on the one night and had the must higher ratings then all the stations what would happen? Would THE CW BE SHOCKED HOW MANY FANS WATCHED THE LAST EPISODE!! I don't know but I read in the paper the reason that 7th Heaven came back this year was of the BIGGEST RATINGS!! Well fans just think about that!!!!
I just want thank LAUREN AND ALEXIS but it might not be over yet? We will see you guys and WHERE YOU LEAD I WILL FOLLOW!!! If you guys come back and shoot a movie I will be happy!!! I LOVE YOU GILMORE GIRLS

1). The lazy story telling that perpetuated in the last few seasons. Episodes about a study tree or Rory freaking out about a job. The inconsistencies which stemmed from writers not watching past seasons.

2). Rory - Who is this girl? I still don't know. I got her more when
she was at Chilton wanting to be top girl. But I never felt any
passion from her for writing and being a journalist or going to Yale.

3). Kirk. A little KirK goes a LONG way. Sometimes that the powers-that-be never got. Odd jobs were cute, but it got old really fast.

Natasha, you make some good points... there are definitely a lot of missteps the past few years for this show. I agree that Liz and TJ were awful, as was Luke's daughter storyline... and yes, Alexis can't act, and her friends at college were lame...

and yet I think of the first two seasons of the show, and the many great episodes interspersed in the latter episodes, like the season 4 finale, or this season, Lane's baby shower episode and the transcendent karaoke scene, and I get all choked up. Like many of you, I watched this show with my mom over the years, I cheered Luke and Lorelai on, I loved watching Paris have meltdowns. When this show was good, it was GOOD, and I will miss it very much.

First of all I would like to say that I am going to miss Gilmore Girls terribly. I truly think it was the best show I have ever seen! The witty and fast paced comments were so well delivered and extremely funny. I would also like to say that ALEXIS BLEDEL ABSOLUTELY CAN ACT!!!!!!! Lauren and Alexis's superb acting are what make the show so great. They are both extremely and equally talented.

One more thing, when will the CW and other networks figure out that giving away major plot points (ie, Luke and Lorelai kissing) in the previews is a BAD thing?! Mo, help us out here, there must be a way to knock some sense into the promo monkeys!

Nora,
I had to sit watching that dumb show whenever my ex-girlfriend was over. That was the high point of her intellectual capacity so I dumped her and the network dumped the show. Sounds like the network and I were thinking along the same line.
By the way...did that idiot who owned the dinner
go bed with that dirty baseball cap on?????
And for "Mark", I prefer books to stupid television sitcoms.

Mo, Do you know what role, if any, Amy Sherman-Palladino played in this last ep? I'd read pretty much everywhere that she had the last line of the show written years ago, and I want to know if that's what we heard. If so, it didn't end up being nearly as special as I'd hoped...

It started slow for me, I thought, this is weird, the whole Christiane Amanpour thing seemed odd somehow. And the trip planning between Rory and Lorelei left me cold. Then when Rory got the job, it started. I cried through the rest of the episode. And as one who wanted a season 8 and felt cheated by a season finale masquerading as a series finale, I have to say --it was a great finale. That last scene, Lorelei and Rory talking, Luke in the background, the window framed with lights, its a great image to take away as the end. And Rory and Lane--so touching. Lorelei is going to keep going to Friday Night dinners--and her dad recognized what a great life Lorelei built in Star's Hollow. Lorelei tucking Rory in one more time--I'm not a mom and I felt the tenderness, the sadness, the love of it all. And the town, running around to make the party--too cool. Luke staying up all night sewing ponchos together --outrageous. And finally--L/L are back--no more fighting, heming, hawing. They both admitted it, at the same time, without words. How cool is that, for a couple that didn't trust each other's words, that took the slightest doubt and magnified it a hundredfold. They stopping analyzing, looked at each other, and that was it. And he gave her the necklace, said 'take all the time you need'. I can rest easy, as I know they will be together. Do I wish there was more? Of course. Would I like in on their conversations, wedding, kids--definitely. Would I love to see Rory grow through this job, and perhaps meet Logan on the campaign trail, without a doubt. As Lorelei said " Its too soon". Too soon to let them go. So Hasta Luego Gilmore Girls --until we meet again.

P.S. to TVAddict ASP was not part of the finale. Lauren Graham said in interview that as they didn't know this was the end, she didn't ask ASP what those last words were supposed to be. So it will be a legend, we'll never know.

P.P.S. agree with others who said, if you don't like a show, don't post. Its one thing to dish the dirt, but just to dump on those who enjoy it, well, do something positive with your time.

First of all I would like to say that I am very upset that Gilmore Girls has come to an end! It was a great show. Their fast talking banter was extremely clever and always funny. Also every character on the show was played by exceptional actors. ALEXIS BLEDEL ABSOLUTELY CAN ACT! She and Lauren Graham are what made the show so addictive! She would not have been hired if she couldn't act and the show would not have lasted this long because no one would watch the show if the actors weren't fantastic actors!!!!!!!

i think it's mean to say alexis can't act cuz obviously she gets a lot of roles in all kinds of movies. she is in hollywood for godssake. she must be good. and i like her on the show. i really do.
of course she wont ever be even close to being as good as lauren is. but besides sandra bullock no one will ever be as good as lauren.
GG is a show that was witty, funny and never lame even if they made 7 seasons. even though the last season wasnt as good as any of the other 6 but it was still fun to watch.

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